Envelop moistener and sealer



No. 6ll,'934,. Pat enfad Oct. 4,- I893. B; F. FLETCHER.

ENVELDP MOISTENEB AND SEALER.

(Applicafiioii fixed reb- 23, 1898.)

(No ModeL) NITED STATES" ATENI Fries.

ENVELOP MOISTENER AND SEALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,934, dated October 4, 1898.

Application fi1 dI'ebruary 23 1898. Serial No. 671,319. (No model.)

To all whom it mayoonoern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lock Haven, in the county of Clinton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop Moisteners and Sealers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for moistening and sealing envelops. Its objects are to provide an apparatus of simple and durable construction by means of which the gummed flap of an envelop may be readily moistened and the envelop quickly and effectively sealed.

In the preferred form of my invention which I have herein shown and described I attain the above objects by constructing a base-receptacle having a handle made integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto, by means of which the entire device can be lifted or rocked at will. Within the receptacle is held a pad, preferably of the construction hereinafter described, above which projects a platen or plate hinged to the handle and normally held in an elevated position over the pad by means of springs.

In the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred form of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the moistener, showing the platen or plate in normal position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the envelop in position for inoistening the flap, and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the flap folded upon the envelop and in position under the receptacle preparatory to scaling the same.

In said drawings, a is a shallow receptacle formed of any suitable material, which is provided, preferablyat the back, as shown, with a handle I) of any suitable construction. Secured to said handle are coiled spring-hinges c, the outer ends of which are secured to platen or plate d, which isv adapted to be normally suspended over the base-receptacle at an elevation that will permit the operator to readily place the flaps to be moistened in position. If desired, this platen or plate may be retained in a vertical position by means of a suitable hook cl thereon adapted to engage with the edge of the handle I) or by other desired means. Fastening devices a, adapted to engage with the edges of the sides, are also provided, by means of which said platen or plate may be closed tightly upon the pad when the same is not in use, and thus reduce evaporation from the pad.

The receptacle Ct is formed with its sides turned inward, forming an angle with the bottom of the receptacle and adapted to extend over the edges of the pad and retain the same in position. taut advantage in so constructing the walls,

Another and more imporespecially the front one, is to permit the rapid and effective insertion of the receptacle between the envelop and flap, offering as it does no obstruction whatever to the insertion of the flap beneath the platen or plate cl, as would result from the use of vertical walls.

The pad within the receptacle is preferably formed of two parts, an upper and lower sec tion, the lower and main section f being larger than the upper and smaller section or pad g, which is preferably of finer mesh or texture than the lower section. This upper section, although substantially in the form of the gummed portion of the envelop, has a cut-out portion g at the front thereof which prevents the moistening of the ungummed portion of the flap. Section f serves as a feeder to section 9, and as the material which incloses the latter is more dense or of finer texture than the material or inclosing case of the former it receives a ready supply of moisture from the former without presenting too damp a surface to the gum on the envelop.

In operation an envelop is placed beneath the receptacle a with its flap extending over the front thereof and under platen or plate d, the gummed side downward. Platen or plate cl is then struck downward, pressing the flap upon the pad g and effectively mois tening it. Pressure being removed from the platen or plate, it springs back to its normal position. After the gum has been moistened the sealing of the envelop is accomplished either by raising the receptacle or rocking it upon its rearedge to clear it from the flap of the envelop and then pressing the receptacle down upon the flap, either by lowering it or by rocking it forward upon the envelop, the rigid handle enabling the operator to thus use the receptacle in sealing or closing the envelop.

For greater convenience in using the pad for moistening stamps the platen or plate cl can be pushed back against the handle, thereby overcoming the action of the spring or springs which hold the platen or plate in a position intermediate the pad and handle and secured by a thumb-cleat or other suitable fastening means. The same means which are employed for fastening the cover back against the handle or separate devices,

as thumb-hooks a, can be used for securing the platen or plate down upon the pad to reduce evaporation when the device is not in use.

My invention enables me to furnish means for sealing envelops, ($50., which is light, simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and effective and durable in practice.

I do not confine myself to the exact form and proportion of the parts herein shown as an embodiment of my invention, as I am aware that changes therein can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-* 1. As a new article of manufacture, the

envelop and stamp moistener, consisting of the receptacle containing the moistening device and having an upright handled portion, and the spring-hinged or spring-pivoted platen or plate normally held at an angle to the moistening device, substantially as set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the envelop and stamp moistener, consisting of the receptacle containing the moistening device and having an upright fixed handled portion, and the spring-hinged or spring-pivoted platen or plate normally held at an angle to said moistening device, and means adapted to retain saidplaten out of operative position, as when it is to moisten stamps, substantially as set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, the envelop and stamp moistener consisting of the receptacle containing the moistening device and having an upright fixed handled portion, the spring-pivoted or spring-hinged platen or plate normally held angularly to said lnoistening device, said receptacle having inward and upward inclined sides, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJ. F. FLETCHER. lVitnesses:

J. A. WVILsoN, E. A. RYAN. 

